Pac-12 coaches pick Oregon softball to finish last in conference

Posted Feb 05, 2019

AP

Oregon's Cherish Burks slides as Drake catcher Gabbie Jonas prepares to apply the tag as Oregon's Mia Camuso, center, and umpire Ron Burkhardt watch the play during the fifth inning of an NCAA Division I softball tournament regional game in Eugene, Ore., Saturday, May 19, 2018. Burks was safe on the play. Oregon won 3-0 to advance in the tournament. Oregon's Haley Cruse is at top. (Andy Nelson/The Register-Guard via AP)

UCLA topped the coaches poll with 61 points and five first-place votes with 2018 WCWS runner-up Washington narrowly behind with 60 four and four first-place votes. Arizona (50 points) was third followed by Arizona State (43), Oregon State and Cal (31), Utah (19) and Stanford (17).

Oregon added five walk-ons to provide depth for substitutions to a roster that has only outfielder Haley Cruse returning to the starting lineup.

The Ducks open the season against Kansas at 10:30 a.m. PT on Friday (Pac-12 Network) as part of a five-game slate at the Kajikawa Classic in Tempe, Ariz.